Ottawa is in discussions with the provinces on plans to offer every Canadian worker 10 paid days of sick leave a year.
While some employers already offer 10 paid sick days annually, the Liberals made the measure mandatory for all federally-regulated industries.
In Ontario, provincially-regulated employers only have to offer three unpaid sick days a year.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau told reporters Monday that B.C. Premier John Horgan first raised the issue during the first First Ministers' call several weeks ago. He also discussed it with NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh on Sunday.
"When the fall comes, and flu season starts up, we don't want people who develop a sniffle to suddenly worry that while they really shouldn't go into work, but they can't afford not to go into work -- therefore the risk of contributing to a second wave," said Trudeau.
Public health officials have urged workers to stay home if they feel sick. The messaging has ramped up during the pandemic, but it is not new. Health officials have told Canadians not to go to work if they are suffering symptoms of influenza for years.
Trudeau said that while many of the premiers agree that workers need to be able to stay home when they are sick to avoid the spread of illness, he said the mechanism to supply workers with it is "challenging."
File photo courtesy of © Can Stock Photo Inc. / terryphotos
Meanwhile, the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation opened applications for the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance program at 8 a.m. Monday, but landlords in Ontario will have to wait an extra day.
The corporation started taking applications for landlords with fewer than ten tenants in Atlantic Canada, B.C, Alberta and Quebec on Monday. Applications for those landlords in Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and the Territories will open at 8 a.m. Tuesday.
Landlords with more than ten tenants will have to wait until later in the week to apply for assistance.
Under the program, landlords will receive 75 per cent of the commercial rent from their tenants. Federal and provincial governments provide forgivable loans covering half the cost, and the tenants will pay 25 per cent. The program is for April, May, and June.
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau urged landlords to apply.
"Small businesses are the backbone of this country. We need to be there to support them when it matters most," he said.
While some jurisdictions have placed a moratorium on commercial evictions, Ontario has not. Instead, Premier Doug Ford has pleaded with landlords to show flexibility.
That is not good enough for the Canadian Federation of Independent Business, the Ontario Chamber of Commerce, the Ontario Restaurant Hotel and Motel Association, Restaurants Canada, and the Retail Council of Canada. The five organizations stepped up their campaign to have a moratorium imposed in Ontario with a letter to the premier.
"Business owners have been telling us that they are stressed about being evicted and urgently need your help," said the letter to Doug Ford. "We know from our members that many landlords will not apply, meaning that their tenants will not be able to access the program."